26 April 2016

News Story: France wins $50b contract to help build Australia's new submarines

David Wroe

France has won the $50 billion contract to help build Australia's next fleet of submarines, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull indicating all 12 submarines will be built in Adelaide.

Mr Turnbull announced that Defence experts' advice was "unequivocal" in favour of the French proposal.

French firm DCNS has won the hard-fought contest over Germany and Japan to help design and build the fleet to replace the Collins Class fleet.

"The recommendation of ... the experts who oversaw it was unequivocal. The French offer represented the capabilities best able to meet Australia's unique needs. This is a momentous national endeavour."

Mr Turnbull said that "the bulk of the work will be done here" in Adelaide though there would be a supply chain that stretched across the country and some components such as the US-made combat system will be sourced overseas.

Read the full story at SMH (with Video)